Three Heavy Recovery Variants Augment NZDF Fleet

Rheinmetall Australia has completed the handover of three HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

The handover ceremony took place on 25 November at Trentham Military Camp in Wellington. The delivery augments the NZDF’s medium and heavy operational vehicle fleet; its Rheinmetall-supplied medium-heavy operational vehicles have been used extensively in training, operations and during disaster relief efforts.

“Delivery of this enhanced recovery capability, complementing the already-delivered medium-heavy operational vehicles fleet, in the midst of global COVID challenges, is a testament to the relationship between Rheinmetall and the NZDF,” said Gary Stewart, Managing Director. “The HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicle is another example of our commitment to providing sustainable design, development and manufacturing.”

The three HX 8×8 vehicles delivered to the NZDF are the first of the Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles family to feature an integrated armoured swap cabin. This will allow rapid reconfiguration of the vehicle in response to operational need.  The contract includes training, with Rheinmetall providing a dedicated team to deliver initial training to NZDF personnel. Maintenance costs are kept low by the HX range’s broad commonality with MAN’s widely used TGA commercial trucks.